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Novel is, her novel

Authoress of `Golden Stag', Sivasundari Bose, wants to reach out mainly to the non-Tamil audience, writes R. REENA

PHOTO:M. MOORTHY

LIVELY Articulate writer.

"Tiruchi is very much in there," says Sivasundari Bose, looking fondly at the book, `Golden Stag', authored by her.

The 57-year-old writer and a grandmother of two, worked on the novel for 12 years. Cine actor, Kamal Hassan, released it at Landmark, a popular bookstore in Chennai last month.

`Golden Stag' is set in 20th century and narrates the story of five generations of men who lived in South India.

Devotes a chapter

In the book, Narendran, a character representing the fourth generation settles in Srirangam and the author has devoted a whole chapter to life in Tiruchi.

A literature graduate from Lady Doak College in Madurai, Sivasundari Bose shifted to Tiruchi post-marriage in 1977. It is quite natural for her to have incorporated several landmarks of the city in this particular chapter of the novel. The mention of Thillainagar, Hotel Aristo, Main Guard Gate, St.Joseph's Convent, Campion Higher Secondary School, K.K. Nagar, and Khaja Malai strike an instant chord. The Ayyappan Temple near where she resides also finds a mention. "I chose to write from my experience. The story could have actually happened anywhere. I have given it an universal appeal," she says.

Love for Tamil culture

A glossary at the end of the 299-page novel explains the Tamil terms unique to our culture. Sivasundari Bose wants to reach out mainly to the non-Tamil audience and give them an insight into a Tamilian's way of life. She fell in love with Tamil culture from her childhood, part of which was spent in Kaaraiyar, a hill station where her father cultivated cardamom.

Sivasundari took to writing from the age of six. "I had the habit of recording everything," she recalls how she used to scribble on pieces of paper and later developed the habit of writing diaries, which she still treasures. "My short stories come from those diaries," says Sivasundari.

She is versatile in English and Tamil. Two of her short stories, one each in Tamil and English have been published in India Today and Femina respectively.

Delving into the novel, Sivasundari says she has presented mere facts instead of dictating what is right or wrong. The characters are woven into real incidents that had taken place at the time of freedom struggle, Hindi agitation, emergence of Dravidian parties, Mandal Commission Report and finally the World Trade Centre attack.

"Initially, my novel ended with the Gulf War in 1990. But while waiting for publication, the attack of World Trade Centre in New York shook me enough to include it. I wanted to put in tsunami too but by then I had already sent the manuscript to the publishers," she shares.

Translating Sangam poetry

Sivasundari Bose is now working on another novel, yet to be named. The story is set in the 18th century and deals with rebirth. At present, she is also translating the 2000 -year old Tamil Sangam poetry, `Kuruntokai' into English and titled the work `He, She and the other woman.'

An avid reader, Sivasundari has passed the convention to her son and daughter as well. "They are my first and best critics," she says.

Thangaraj Bose her husband and engineer by profession supported her throughout the period when she wrote the book and later accompanied her to meet various publishers. Sivasundari did not fail to acknowledge their support and has dedicated the novel to them and her parents as well.

Priced at Rs.350, the Golden Stag, published by Mosaic Books is available as paperback.

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